Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22

nm came OUT or the nail door. IL was Ches-
ter Montague.
4Sineular that I always meet that man
here lately" muttered MIR. Weldon, browning.
| However. he cleared the frown from his brow
md greeted MI. Montague courteously enough
AS he passed. 1t may as well be stated here
| that Mr.. Montague had not, as yet, received
his answer.
I)urinp his call Mr.. Weldon adhered to his
resolution and said nothing about the mo-
n,cntous question. 1t is only necessary to re-
fer to one portion of the conversation between
him and Miss Elsie.
~ have had O misfortune" said Elsie, at
one time.
"Why. whatg' asked Mr.. Weldon.
"Varcor, my parrot, has made his escape"
Mr.. Weldon was rejoiced. Then the parrot
that he had at home in q cage belonged to
Miss Elsie, Restoring it would be a small
matter. but then small matters sometimes
turned the current in such affair as his.
"Why. Miss Bruce" he exclaimed, Il be-
lieve I had the good fortune to capture you
bird. and l have him Gagged now. If l had
taken a thought I might ave known he be-
longed to you. I will bring him to you this
very afternoon. He has not been happy
with me, for not q word has he uttered since
I captured him."
After Mr.. Weldon took his departure he
was not absent long. He returned shortly
with a parrot.
us this your bird, " he asked. So
Miss Elsie took the cage in her hand.
ayes, it is Varcor," she cried. Speak to
me Varcor."
But Varcor ru6led up his feathers and re-
fused to utter O sound.
II an very grateful to you Mr.. Weldon"
said Elsie, turning her attention to the gen.
tleman. He remained another hour and then
went away.
his cage, seemingly angry at the whole world,
and refused to give forth an ~utterance. This
went OH for twenty-four hours. Then Elsie
laid her case before her father. She found
him alone in the library, and carried Varcor,
cage and all, in to him.
"Papa. I believe Varcor is going to die"
said pretty Miss Elsie.
Mr.. Bruce adjusted his spectacles.
"Elsie, it occurs to me that it is singular
that a woman who has the consideration o
her future fate in her hands at the present
should let her mind be occupied with such
trivial matters"
"Papa, I suppose it is because I AM a
woman" laughed Elsie.
Varcor rufled his feathers, smoothed them
again, and then popped up pertly.
"Elsie," said Mr.. Bruce, gravely, II should
suppose that you would realize"
'The devil" interrupted an irreverent voice.
"Whence came that note of sin?" exclaimed
Mr.. Bruce, looking around in bewilderment.
@Hellaugins!" exclaimed the voice.
Mr.. Bruce leaped to his feet.
"Am I bewiachedp he questioned. The
answer was:
"Im Capt. Jinks, of the boss marines; I'm
a captain in the army"
Then it all became apparent. The voice was
from Varcor's cage. His long period of silence
was over. The talented bird had changed
tutors, to some purpose, you see.
I'm a daring young man with a flying
trapeze; I can fly through the air with the
greatest of ease," observed he, proceeding
with his choice extracts.
Mr.. Bruce walked around the cage. Hce eyed
it in sheer dismay. Varcor hoped toward
him.
"Old skinflintl old skinlint! old skinfint!"
he snapped out.
"rhat bird must die!" roared Mr.. Bruce.
He seized the cage, and opened it, while Elsie
fled from the apartment in tears. But MIR.
Bruce had reckoned without his host. Var
cor had relapsed into total depravity. As
he reached his arm into the cage Varcor
seized his finger, and held on till it was with
drawn.
Mr.. Bruce danced around tho room furi-
ously, swapping his fingers together. His
spcctacles were dashed to the floor and
broken. He ran against a table covered with
books and vases, and it overturned with a
crash. Meantime Varcor had released his
l-1l --I $500 - - A. ~ 49,
a parting shot as he went:
"T-h-e d-e-v-i-l!"
Mr.. Bruce sprang after the bird, but he
lifted quickly along the hall and into the par
lor. A window was open there, and he made
his escape forever. Elsie was there.
"Where has that bird been?" foamed Mr..
M Weldon has had him for a few davs.n
Elsie faltered. ~
"Whof"
"Mr. Weldon"
"Mr. Weldon! Ha! and he wants to marry
you. Evidently he is a very bad man him.
sell. and must keep very bad company. He
shall never have you. You shall marry Mr.
montague tomorrow, if you want to. Wei.
ions q ~scoundrel!" And Mr.. Bruce rushed
away to cool bis wrath.
well, Elsie did not marry Mr.. Montagne nc
'oon as MI. Bruce had indicated. Rnt che
lid finally become his wife.
Varcor was never seen in that vicinity
lfterward. If he has received the reward
10 should have for his aptness in taking las
ons from MIR. Weldon he is travelling with
circus n acquiring fame.-Ballon,s
Dou
Cause of Tilden's Death.
20 Howard, in The Boston Globe. saws Mr..